New Owner Here

Click on the "Search" button above and all your questions will be magically answered.

 

An encyclopedia salesman once came to my door.

He asked, "Do you own an encyclopedia?"

I replied, "Uh, what was it you wanted to know?"


Ba-da-boom.

 

Read the manual.

 

Welcome to Prius Chat and congratulations on your new Prius.

 

New owner boilerplate advice follows.

When you pick up the car [it might still be worth a look at this stuff anyway] take a copy of the pick up checklist:
http://www.vfaq.net/docs/pickup_checklist.html
It was written for the 2004 but most (all?) of the differences between an '04 and later years are invisible with respect to the checklist.

Remember that when the last pip on the gas gauge starts to flash, buy gas immediately. Because of the fuel tank's flexible internal bladder you cannot accurately estimate how much gas remains based on how much you put in at the last fill and how far you've driven since then.

Note that no more than 3.5 US quarts of oil are required at an oil change. 3 quarts is plenty and is very convenient if you provide your own oil. 3.9 quarts is too much; the owner's manual and the shop manual are both misleading on this point.

Read the Owner's Manual. Follow the Scheduled Maintenance Guide. More service is not required and will cost you money. Less can damage the car.

And you really do need both of those documents. If necessary buy them from Toyota or online. The Manual is a little funky but it collects everything in one place, except for the recommended maintenance items which are in the Guide. The Guide can easily pay for the cost of buying both documents aftermarket the first time you get the car serviced.